The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-26
A PremOnitOn.


try bank, if you please. l began work
in that situation nearly thirty years
ago, and the changes in our bank
since that date have been few and far
between. Some OF the old men have
been replaced-we have increased our
capital-we have a vault, with time
lock-the directors room has been re-
furnished once or twice, but we have
never aspired to the frils and scallops
OF your city banks. However, we
have had our adventures with burglars
sneaks, and bogus draft men, and the
city bank cashier can teach me moth
ing about raised checks, counterfeit
bills, or sharpers OF any grade. | got
my eyes open very early, and there
was an adventure in it which may
interest the reading public. Our
bank was established when the now
thriving city OF R--was only town
OF $500 people. In those far. back
days we had nothing like the present
burglar and iire-proof sales. The
bank, which was two-story building
with II cellar, had u sort OF box made
Of iron, and this was enclosed in brick
work in the cellar and called a vault.
A lock with key weighing half n
pound was rivited to the iron door,
and when the job was finished we all
felt perfectly sale and secure. There
was a stairway from The cashiers
room, and every night the money used
to be taken down to the vault and
every morning brought up again. Be-
fore leaving the bank it was my duty
to see that the vault door was locked
and then | hid the key behind a loose
brick in the cellar wall. The bank
cellar was used only to store the wood
required for our two stoves during
cold weather, and its two windows
were secured by iron shutters which
bolted inside. AS we built the bank
building other parties built q store,
and they were allowed to use our wall
to save expense. Thus, from cellar
bottom to roof, there was only sim
gle wall dividing us, and above the
ground that was OF brick, and q foot
thick.
The bank had been doing business
about q year when the merchant who
occupied the store failed in business,
and the building stood empty for sew
eral weeks. At length it was rented
again, and this time by man who
gave out that he was an agent for
some eastern machinery manufacture
ers. He ran partition across the
store to make an office in front, and
he got in desk, hung up some maps
and advertising cards, and announced
that he would soon be supplied with
sample machinery. He did not put
up any sign, and as he did not seem
interested in cultivating the acquaint-
ance OF the townspeople his presence
was soon almost forgotten. He SEEM
ed morose and unsocial. People have
laid tie same charge at my own door.
You may, therefore, think it singular
that James Dowd, the new conner, and
l were soon acquainted, and that
| had a deciding liking for him.
Perhaps this was because
he deposited 500 with
us almost as soon as he reached R.,
and promised to be good customer.
He seemed to like me, too, and after
three or four weeks, knowing that he
was all alone and in u strange town, |
invited him to my mothers house to
play me game OF checkers. He came
and all the family felt well toward |
him on first sight. He was well learn.
ed, q gentleman in speech and de-
meanor, and felt q friendship for
him at once.
He came again and again, and he
found a warm welcome each time. |
He also came into the bank quite |
often, sometimes increasing his bal |
ance and sometimes checking out,
and on several occasions | dropped |
into his office in a friendly way. He
never asked question about the |
banks affairs, nor did he exhibit |
much curiosity in any direction. Our
acquaintance was begun in September |
and lasted to the 10th day of March.
On the 18th day OF March observed |
two strangers in Dowd's office in con-
versation with him, but that was a
simple incident, to be forgotten in
an hour. Just before the close OF |
the banking hours he came in and
checked out his balance, which was
abont $3.50. saying, in an apologetical
way, that he needed the cash to close
up q business deal. l told him that
the 10th was my sisters birthday,
and that we should have a few friends
drop in for the evening. Igave him
strong invitation, and he accepted it
with seeming pleasure. did not see
him again until noon OF the 10th, and |